Calliope covered her face and head, shielding her body as much as possible as the villagers around attacked her, first with rocks and then grabbing at her clothing, tearing her beautiful garments and tossing the scraps to the ground. They wanted to humiliate her, to break her down and it was working.
Calliope barely noticed the blood and bruises marring her skin, her eyes fixed on her mother's unmoving body and the blood that pooled around her head like an angry, morbid halo.
Tears fell down Calliope's face in heavy waves, Samael's name on the tip of her tongue before she stopped herself from crying out for him.
"You'll be stripped and burned, witch."
Joseph fell on top of Calliope, ripping her dress further until her chest was nearly exposed. She screamed in his face, fury and fear making her nearly feral. He was going to kill her, just like he'd killed her mother.
Calliope grabbed his meaty hands, her nails digging into his skin as she fought against his hold.
A cold wind blew over them, the sun in the sky disappearing behind a dense cloud, taking away whatever warmth had been in the day. It wasn't the sudden drop in temperature that made the people around Calliope freeze, but the ominous presence that filtered in around them. Darkness crept in, and despite the panicked screams that sounded around them, Calliope collapsed onto her back in relief.
She cried again, the sad sound quickly muffled by a slightly manic laugh. Calliope's shoulders shook and Joseph jumped from her as if he'd been burned, looking around frantically. Calliope couldn't help the bitter laugh that left her, her eyes focusing on her mother's dead body until sobs wracked her frame, stealing her of breath.
Shocked cries came from the crowd around her as Calliope was lifted from the ground, Samael's scent enveloping her. She was set gently on her feet, his long, black cloak dwarfing her trembling body as it slid over her, covering her protectively.
"Go inside," Samael said softly, his fingers wiping at the tears that slid down her face.
Calliope shook her head, afraid to let him out of her sight.
"You shouldn't see this," Samael told her, resignation on his face. He shook his head. "You shouldn't see me like this, my darling."
Joseph appeared behind Samael, his hammer coming down on the Fae's head.
Calliope didn't have a moment to scream a warning before Samael turned, grabbing Joseph's meaty fist in his hand and twisting. The large man grunted in pain, but Samael kept twisting, darkness pouring from him in waves, chilling the air until Calliope could see her breath in the frost that formed.
Joseph screamed in pain, the bones in his arm breaking.
Samael smirked, twisting once more before blood spurted and Joseph's arm came free of his body. He knocked the blacksmith back, watching as he fell to the ground with a hard thud. Samael tossed his arm to Joseph's side before he turned, pulling his long sword free of his side.
The crowd around them parted in a sea of panic, but Samael merely looked at them. The icy darkness that had crept forth from him earlier created a barricade of black frost, keeping Calliope's assailants from escaping him.
Samael was quick and merciless, monstrous, as he cut down each villager who had taken part in harming Calliope. Their pleas meant nothing, their screams and terror only fueled him until Calliope and Samael were the only ones left standing in a sea of bodies.
Calliope's legs went out from under her as Samael slowly approached, swinging his blade expertly. He slammed his sword tip down onto Joseph's head as he walked by, pulling it free with ease. Calliope didn't look, but she heard the blacksmith's harsh gurgle a moment before a tense silence stood between them.
Her Samael had nearly slaughtered the entire village, and he'd done it in a matter of minutes. Without a care in the world. Without a hint of remorse. The darkness she'd sensed within him for weeks had been revealed and now Calliope was left with the aftermath.
Calliope sniffed, her hands trembling as she wiped her eyes.
Samael knelt at her side, flecks of blood marring his face. She shied away from his touch when he reached for her, an irrational part of her afraid he would decide she was next on his list.
"I told you not to watch, little mouse," Samael chided softly and she whimpered, dropping her head.
Samael ignored her pitiful struggles when he reached for her again, pulling her into his arms and holding her close.
Calliope didn't want him anywhere near her, fear overriding everything she'd learned about him in recent weeks. Her heart screamed at her that this was still the Samael she was in love with, but her mind was frozen with fear. It wasn't until his warmth eased the chill in her bones that Calliope stopped trembling. His scent calmed her and his hands slid lightly over her, taking stock of her injuries, stopping on each cut, each bruise.
Even when she was terrified, Samael sought to care for her. How could the Fae she'd fallen in love with be someone capable of such cruelty? And why didn't it terrify her as much as it should have?
"Why did you do it?" Calliope asked as she pulled back, needing to know why he'd killed Thomas.
"They were hurting you, Calliope," Samael snarled, dropping his soft façade for the crueler side of himself that she'd only just met. For some twisted reason, his answer calmed her, helping Calliope to shed the last of her fear.
"No," she shook her head. "I mean Thomas. Why did you kill him?"
Samael stiffened momentarily, his expression morphing into one of cold fury. "He put his hands on you, touched you. Scared you. I knew when you lied to me, that it wouldn't be the last time he sought to put his filthy hands on your body."
"So you killed him."
"I relished every second of his pain, knowing he would never have the opportunity to bruise your precious skin again," Samael said quietly. "I think a part of myself knew you were destined to be mine from the start."
Calliope shivered, reaching slowly for Samael's bloodied hand.
"You're still frightened of me," Samael stated, mistaking her reaction to the cold.
Calliope bit her lip, unsure of how to answer. "I don't think you'll ever hurt me," she admitted. "But I never realized how powerful you were. How strong you were. I have nothing like that, Sam. I have no power. That frightens me."
"Deimos," Samael told her softly, cupping her face. Calliope gasped, realizing what he'd just revealed. Her heart beat hard in her chest. "I am Deimos, the general to the High King of the Winter Court and heir to the Unseelie Kingdom. And I am yours, Calliope Gray. I will keep you safe and slaughter your enemies, from here until eternity. That is the power you wield."
"You trust me with your name?" His eyes shined with emotion as he stared down at her, wiping at a stray tear that fell.
"Little mouse, I have trusted you with my name and my heart. What will you do with them both?"
Calliope stood there, feeling the weight of her decision as it slid from her shoulders. She wrapped her arms around Deimos, pulling his hard body to hers.
"Take me home, Sam."